Der Hohenfriedberger Marsch (The March of Hohenfriedberg), Prussian military march

Details

Description

27th of October 1806: Napoleon entered Berlin and visited the tomb of Frederick the Great.

"Remove your hats, Gentlemen. If this man were still alive, we would not be standing here today." - Napoleon Bonaparte to his Marshals in Frederick the Great's mausoleum in Berlin

The origins of this march are shrouded in mystery. We do not know what year it was written, or who wrote it, but there are many legends. We do know, however, that it appeared sometime between 1745 and 1795. It was written and named to commemorate the Battle of Hohenfriedberg in 1745, a stunning Prussian victory over Austria and Saxony. One story says that the march was first played the day after the battle for the Bayreuther Dragoon Regiment, who had been critical to the victory. Another very common myth, and one that we do not know to be either fact or fiction, is that King Frederick II (the Great) of Prussia, who had been in command at the battle, wrote it himself. We do know that he was a very keen musician, so that lends a little credibility. Lyrics for the march were written in 1845, the centenary of the battle.

Audio from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryHhoTsjaAI
Picture from https://twitter.com/dhr_adu701/status/1003372049056915458